The Holy Trinity.

[Theland]

How do you understand the concept of the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?
It is accepted in faith by most but not all christians, yet is an important part of christian doctrine.
Even atheists can read the texts in the bible and come to a conclusion on this, as to what the scriptures actually say or infer, regardless of their unbelief.

[China Doll]

The father is the actualisation of the role of God. The son is his physical stance and the spirit is what lives in all his people.

If I believed it then that's how I would understand it as it is what I was taught.

[Dassie]

The supreme spirit , its manifestation in earthly form, and the life force that runs through all life forms.

[Theland]

China - "If I believed it ..... " but nevertheless you made the effort to answer it based on your understanding of the texts, and I appreciate that.
Some people searching for god have a difficulty with this and all views are helpful to provoke thinking on this issue.

[Theland]

Dassie - That's a nice way of putting it.

[China Doll]

I try and make an effort to answer sensible questions in a sensible manner where possible... I think it's how I get away with talking dross for most of the time.

The idea is a struggle but I think if you wish to believe you make that leap of faith. However for me it is a leap too far.

[taliesin238]

I had it explained to me when i was a kid like this:- It is possible to be three people all at once i am a sister, a daughter and an auntie all at once!! The holy trinity a symbol of one huge devine being, meaning three different things to different people at different intervals. Does that make sence??? God the father as in god, god the son as in jesus christ and god the holy spirit as in the spirit of all good being everywhere!!
The significance of three like you mentioned is in many religions. I think it is literally just a metafor. The ancient celts used a symbol in their artwork called the triskele. This pattern is of three swirls stuck together to form one pattern. Many historians have been trying to work out just what this pattern means and repressents to the ancient celtic people!! This is just one example of three being a very powerful and significant number in a beleif system!! I find this kinda thing really fascinating!!

[Ice-Maiden]

This is where Fr. Bill came in so handy!

[Theland]

My own belief, probably imperfect, is that we are made in the image of God ..... but .... God is so completely, "other," than we are, that we fail to understand His majesty and power, which is manifested also in His very being.
There is only one God, but there are three persons of God, not three different people!
When God speaks, His Word, the Son, the second person of the Godhead, goes out and accomplishes that which the Father has spoken, by the power of the Holy Spirit. "Let there be light."
All three are totally and completely God.
They are a Tri-Unity, complete and perfect, able to give and receive love, for God is Love.
Just some of my thoughts.

[China Doll]

More or less word perfect of the teachings of a catholic priest I used to know Theland.

[taliesin238]

I think you got it spot on Theland there!!

[Theland]

Ah yes! Father Bill.
Please Village Vicar, if you are reading and pledged not to post for a while, could you not just post on R & S to give us the benefit of your much appreciated views?

[Dassie]

Theland. If we are the image of God then it might lead people to think there is this man floating around in the spirit world. God is a spirit form so when we are made in the image surely this must not be taken literally but means we contain that same spirit or lifeforce that if developed properly could lead us all back to where we belong in spirit form after death?

[taliesin238]

Thats the thing about the bible (and other holy scriptures) is that we all read it in different ways and interpret it in different ways!! That is why religion is VERY personal!! Nobody is right or wrong but its what it means to them that counts!!

[Theland]

China - As I am pretty low down the scale of original thought, I have to say that I try to learn from enlightened scholars, keeping what I feel comfortable with, and what appeals to my understanding of the scriptures.
It is a common view that I have, as evidenced by your conversation with the R.C. priest.

[Theland]

Dassie - Yes, we are made in the image of God, insofar as we are capable of making moral choices, exercising our free will, and of course we have an eternal spirit.

[Theland]

taleisin238 - You are spot on.
Our relationship to god is a very personal relationship.
We can only have a relationship with a person, not a force, or a mysterious, ' something.'
God is a person, albeit a superhuman one, with the added attribute of being a Trinity, the Tri-Unity of perfection and love.

[China Doll]

Disagree with you on that Theland. You can have a relationship with a force or a something. I don't think it's any different to the relationship you have with your God.

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds completely dodgy to me...

Not like the sort of natural common sence scenario where a cat in a box can be alive and dead at the same time

:c)

[WaldoMcFroog]

It's odd, isn't it, if God is a spirit, that the Bible used the word 'tselem' in 1 Gen 27 when it talks about man being made in God's image.

Odd because 'tselem' means "shape, resemblance, figure, shadow." There is nothing abstract in it. This same word is used in Genesis 5:3:

"And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image [tselem], and named him Seth."

A cynic might think this word has been used because the early Jews conceived of a corporeal God, a notion since become incovenient.

It's good of Taliesin to admit that my view that the Bible is a collection of folk myths about a fictional deity is a correct one, by the way.

[VillageVicar]

I saw your thread come across the 'recent posts' section and thought I'd offer this brief story. I'm on the way out the door right now and unfortunately, haven't the time to write more.

I wish you well

Fr Bill

http://anglicans.blogspot.com/search?q=trinity